Linguistic high school

The curriculum of the Linguistic High School is oriented towards the study of various linguistic and cultural systems. It guides the student to broaden and develop knowledge and skills, to acquire the necessary competences to achieve communicative mastery of three languages, in addition to Italian, and to critically understand the historical and cultural identity of different traditions and civilisations. The Linguistic High School programme provides for the development of competences in three foreign languages with the achievement of a level of proficiency of at least level B2 of the "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages" for Language and Culture 1 and a level of proficiency of at least level B1 for Language and Culture 2 and 3.The curriculum includes the constant use of foreign languages. This enables students to have shared experiences of both linguistic communication and understanding of foreign culture from an intercultural perspective. The development of an awareness of cultural similarities and differences, which is indispensable in contact with other cultures, even within our own country, is therefore fundamental.Virtual and face-to-face exchanges, study visits and stays, including individual ones, training placements in Italy or abroad (in cultural, social, productive, and professional environments) complement the high school curriculum.

Find schools in your town or region

See education and employment statistics

Features

From the first year of the second two-year period, teaching of a non-linguistic subject is done in a foreign language with CLIL methodology (Content and Language Integrated Learning, an approach aimed at the integrated learning of linguistic-communicative and disciplinary skills in a foreign language). This subject is included in the area of compulsory activities and teaching for all students or in the area of teaching that can be activated by schools within the limits of the staff quota allocated to them, taking into account the requests of students and their families. From the second year of the second two-year period, a non-language subject is taught in a different foreign language using CLIL methodology.

Compulsory activities and subjects for all students

Annual timetable

Activities and subjects
	1st two-year period		2nd two-year period
	1st year	2nd year	3rd year	4th year	5th year
Italian language and literature	132	132	132	132	132
Lingua latina	66	66
Foreign language and culture 1*	132	132	99	99	99
Foreign language and culture 2*	99	99	132	132	132
Foreign language and culture 3*	99	99	132	132	132
History and geography	99	99
History			66	66	66
Philosophy			99	99	99
Mathematics**	99	99	66	66	66
Physics			66	66	66
Natural sciences**	66	66	66	66	66
History of Art			66	66	66
Motor and sport sciences	66	66	66	66	66
Catholic religion or alternative activities	33	33	33	33	33
Total hours	891	891	990	990	990

* Including 33 hours per year of conversation with a native speaker teacher
** with Computer Science in the first two years
*** Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
N.B. From the first year of the second two-year course, there is provision for the teaching in a foreign language of a non-linguistic subject (CLIL), included in the area of compulsory activities and subjects for all students or in the area of subjects that can be activated by the educational institutions within the limits of the staff quota allocated to them, taking into account the requests of the students and their families. From the second year of the second two-year period, teaching in a different foreign language of a non-linguistic subject (CLIL) is also envisaged, included in the area of compulsory activities and subjects for all students or in the area of subjects that can be activated by the educational institutions within the limits of the staff quota allocated to them, taking into account the requests of the students and their families.

The Linguistic High School curriculum is defined in Appendix D of Presidential Decree 89 of 15 March 2010.
To find out more about the specific learning objectives for Linguistic High School, see Appendix D of Ministerial Decree 211 of 7 October 2010 'National Guidelines'.